Nestled along Sri Lanka’s southern coastline is one of the country’s largest lagoons, Koggala Lake. Dotted with many small islands and home to a thriving wildlife ecosystem, the lake is a sanctuary for birds, lizards and fish. Local fishermen, who’s families have fished the lake for generations, now offer tours around waters, showing tourists the several attractions and glimpses into traditional Sri Lankan life.
The town of Koggala itself is often overlooked by travellers rushing between the more famous destinations along the southern coast, yet it’s home to some beautiful spots. Koggala Beach is a two-mile stretch of golden sand, perfectly sandwiched between the Indian Ocean and thick Sri Lankan jungle. In our two month trip, this was arguably one of the most pristine and less crowded beaches we saw, having the whole place to ourselves every evening for sunsets, as the sun pierced through the mist from the sea creating the iconic Indian beach landscape.
Just a short tuktuk drive away from Koggala Lake is the Traditional Stilt Fishermen Viewpoint, where locals perch on stilts sitting in the sea, an iconic photo opportunity in Sri Lanka. In this blog we uncover everything you need to know before visiting Koggala Lake, how to get there, what’s included in the tour and if it’s worth the money.
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Where Is Koggala Lake?
Located on the popular south coast of Sri Lanka between Galle Fort and Ahangama, Koggala Lake is easy to reach by train, bus, tuktuk or car.
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Koggala Lake Description
Koggala Lake is one of the most scenic lagoons on Sri Lanka’s south coast, the wide and calm lake is surrounded by dense mangroves and dotted with small islands, each offering something unique, from cinnamon farming to temples.
We visited Koggala for 3 nights and stayed just next to the lake in a homestay, a perfect base for exploring the area in the day. During our stay we were also lucky enough to fly with Cinnamon Air and took off from Koggala Lake to fly to Colombo, the water take-off was certainly a unique experience!
There’s no big resorts around Koggala Lake, just raw beauty and an authentic glimpse into local Sri Lankan life on the water.
Koggala Lake Boat Safari
By far the best way to explore Koggala Lake is by taking a boat safari, a laid back tour that lets you explore the lake’s islands and wildlife in one of the local fishing boats. Tours usually last 1 hour and are booked on the spot near the main bridge or via your guesthouse.
Important Tip: Something we wished we knew before visiting, is that locals sit in their tuktuks before the turning down to Koggala Lake on the main road (just in front of the airbase sign). They then haggled us over and tried to get us to book a tour with them. Just continue driving down to the lake and you’ll come to the bridge, here there will be a few fishermen who will immediately start selling to you. We acted not interested in the beginning and the price went from 20,000 lkr to 5,000 lkr. If you let them, they will rip you off!
Don’t get scammed! There are so many reviews of people getting scammed by the locals for the Koggala Lake Boat Tour! Make sure to book through a real tour.
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Most of the boat tours include the following:
- Cinnamon Island: Watch a local family demonstrate how cinnamon is harvested and processed, then enjoy a fresh cup of cinnamon tea. You can also buy some from here however it is very overpriced.
- Temple Island: Visit a small Buddist temple tucked away on its own island, with beautiful lake views.
- Herbal Garden Island: Some tours stop at a small herbal garden offering local remedies
- Wildlife Spotting: Along the way, keep an eye out for water monitors, monkeys, kingfishers, herons and maybe even some crocs.
Tip: Some of the fishermen selling the tours have got pretty bad reviews online, make sure to get an enthusiastic tour guide as it will completely transform the experience, booking through your homestay is the best way to do this.
Top Things To Do In Koggala Lake Map
How To Get To Koggala Lake?
Train
Trains run regularly from Colombo, Galle Dutch Fort and Weligama, making Koggala Lake very accessible. It’s located along the scenic Colombo-Matara coastal railway line and we rode the train from Colombo to Koggala, from the station, Koggala Lake is just a short walk or tuktuk ride away.
Bus
Buses run frequently along Galle road, passing right by Koggala Lake. You can catch a bus heading towards Galle if you’re in Ahangama, Midigama, Weligama, or vice versa. Just let the driver know you want to get off at Koggala Lake.
Tuktuk or Private Taxi
If you’re staying in one of the nearby towns, the most convenient way to get to Koggala Lake is by tuktuk or private taxi. Make sure to agree on a price before getting in or pre-book it online during peak season.
Car or Tuktuk Rental
During our two month road trip around Sri Lanka we rented a tuktuk in order to have the freedom and flexibility to explore at our own pace. While the roads were chaotic at times, it was worth it for the adventure and made our trip even more memorable.
Flight
For a truly unique experience during your travels, consider taking a water landing or take-off with Sri Lanka’s domestic airline, Cinnamon Air. We chose to get the train from Colombo to Koggala, then opted for Cinnamon Air’s Koggala Lake Take-off to get back to Colombo. We highly recommend this experience as seeing the raw Sri Lankan jungle from above was an incredible experience.
We have written more about our Unique Sri Lankan Experience Here.
Koggala Lake Common Questions
Best Places To Stay In Koggala
$ Budget
Mallis Guesthouse
If you’re looking for a budget place to stay in Koggala, Mallis Guesthouse is as local and as cheap as it gets. The accommodation has separate access from the family home and has a private kitchen, bathroom and clean rooms. The family also cook dinner, fresh fish or rice & curry.
$$ Mid-Range
The Mansion Koggala
Offering a beautiful pool area and large, clean rooms, The Mansion in Koggala is a stone’s throw away from the beach. The hotel restaurant cooks up fresh fish every night and staff are super friendly. This hotel is new, with only a few rooms making it feel very personal.
$$$ High-End
Tri by Amaya
No plastic bottles or TV’s in the rooms here! This resort is nestled along Koggala Lake providing the ultimate peaceful getaway from the chaos of Koggala town. They have a focus on sustainability and integration with nature, with massages, delicious food and beautiful scenery.
$$$ High-End
KK Beach
Spacious, clean and comfortable rooms right on Koggala Beach, this resort offers a slice of paradise on Sri Lanka’s south coast. The restaurant serves up delicious food and the pool area actually overlooks the beach. Located a short tuktuk ride from Galle Dutch Fort, its a great location to explore.
Spacing
Final Thoughts on Koggala Lake Sri Lanka
Although Koggala Lake is often skipped by many tourists visiting Sri Lanka, we decided to spend 3 nights here to get away from the chaos of Galle and other popular towns. If you don’t want to stay the night then you could do the lake tour while passing through before visiting the Stilt Fishermen, however we recommend staying and spending at least one sunset at Koggala Beach.
In terms of the lake tour, the reviews are a mixed bag, it very much depends on the local guide you get as some are local fishermen who speak no foreign languages, making it not very fun as you aren’t learning while doing the tour.
We highly recommend the Unique Water Landing Experience with Cinnamon Air! That was amazing to be flying so low above Koggala Lake and seeing the epic views.
